Topic: iPhone 6

Apple's final quarter of 2014 is expected to set dramatic new records in iPhone sales and overall profits, but external issues out of the company's control will also play a part, ranging from cheaper oil to declining foreign currencies.

Analyst Alex Gauna of JMP Securities has raised his price target for Apple from $135 to $150, predicting an "explosive" quarter for the company based on "exceptionally strong" demand seen in both China and the United States.

It appears Apple's supply chain is making significant progress in catching up with demand, as all non-128GB iPhone 6 and 6 Plus models now show ship-by times of three to five days, while 5K Retina iMacs are listed as ready to ship in one to two weeks.

During the last 12 days of Q3 2014, Apple "experienced a huge jump in sales share across almost all major markets thanks to the launch of the iPhone 6," reported Dominic Sunnebo of Kantar Worldpanel, enabling iOS to reach or exceed 40 percent market share in Australia, U.S., UK and Japan.

One day after delivering two iPhone 6 ads highlighting Continuity and gaming performance, Apple on Wednesday continued with a spot demonstrating voice messages, a new-for-iOS 8 feature that lets users send audio via Messages.

Apple on Monday released a pair of commercials starring iPhone 6 spokesmen Jimmy Fallon and Justin Timberlake, one covering iOS and OS X Continuity features and another highlighting the handsets' gaming capabilities.

A growing number of iPhone 6 owners are complaining that their recently-purchased handsets are exhibiting slight surface scratching not seen with previous models, with some alleging flaws in material and design.

On the back of strong seasonal demand, Apple is forecast to ship over 71.5 million iPhones in quarter four, but will see a drop in demand to below 50 million units during the first quarter of 2015, one analyst says.

After decades spent in development, thermal imaging hardware has finally trickled down to the consumer, bringing with it the ability to "see" and measure infrared radiation using something as small as an iPhone. FLIR was the first to bring an iOS-compatible offering to market, but is now challenged by startup Seek, which stuffed similar tech into a smaller package at a lower price point.

Apple is slowly catching up with demand for its popular iPhone 6 two months after the handset launched, with the company's online storefront now showing shipping times pegged at 7 to 10 days for most models, including the 16GB iPhone 6 Plus.

Piper Jaffray has been tracking availability of the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus at Apple Stores and continues to see demand outstripping supply, leading the investment firm to raise its price target on AAPL stock on Thursday.

While most of the buzz surrounding Apple Pay is focused on its use in person at retail, the most popular application this holiday season may be in securely authorizing online purchases, a new study shows.

Though Apple doesn't break down sales figures for specific iPhone models, a new study suggests that the blockbuster sales of the iPhone 6 lineup are mostly driven by the 4.7-inch model, though the 5.5-inch iPhone 6 Plus has still captured a considerable size of the market.

The full version of Greg "Joz" Joswiak's October interview with Re/code has been posted online, with the Apple VP of iPhone, iPod, and iOS Product marketing discussing the iOS 8.0.1 snafu and Apple Pay, among other topics.

Staples on Wednesday began accepting Apple Pay with the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus at all of its retail stores in the U.S., joining the growing list or retailers accepting Apple's tap-to-pay checkout service.

The results of a recent global survey of prospective smartphone buyers conducted by UBS forecast a favorable share of iPhone 6 Plus sales and strong demand in China, prompting the investment firm to raise its price target.